Improvement in car-couplings



l UNITED STATES PATENT. Dr'son WILLIAM S. BURTON, OF MARYVILLE,TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD HIS RIGHT TO JOHN S.- LAVVRENGE, OFSAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1:64.,803, dated June22, 1875; application filed May 27, 1875. a

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. BURTON,

' of Maryville, in the county of Blount and State clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art towhich it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My in\"ention relates to improvements in railroad-car couplers which areself-coupling; and it consists in a cam journaled to the buffer, andhaving an upper and under arm arranged in. connection with thecoupling-pin, and a short arm or projection on its shaft or axle, and ina spring, all arranged and operating so that the cars may be readilycoupled, and, when coupled, the coupling pin held firmly in the buifer,and thereby prevent uncoupling by the jolting of the cars when inmotion.

In the drawings, which represent my invention, a is the buffer ordraw-bar, constructed with a flaring mouth, b, leading into thereceptacle for the link 0, and with a suitable mortise or opening, d,through the top, forthe passage of the lower arm of the cam, hereinafterexplained. e is the coupling-pin, formed with an eye on its upper end,which slides on the upper arm of the cam, and with a length so as toneatly fit between the ends of the upper and lower arms of the'cam, ashereinafter explained. f is the cam, provided with the axle or shaft g,by which it is journaled to the buffer in the lugs h on the upper sidethereof. It is constructed with the upper and under curved arms 6 7c.The under arm is curves inwardly, and passes through the opening d, itsend extending to and resting in a groove in m, all arranged andoperating the bottom of the mouth b. The upper arm t curves backward,and is shaped so as to fit loosely in the eye of the king-bolt. The armsare so arranged with reference to eachother that when the cam is raisedin the act of uncoupling or coupling the cars the end of the lower armwill be immediately under the lower end of the coupling-pin. Zis aprojection onthe shaft g, which serves as a lever,on which the spring macts, and holds the cam firmly in the position shown-in Fig. 1. Thespring at is secured to the buffer by any suitable means, withcapability of being tightened or loosened by means of the screw a. 0 isa lever for raising the cam inuncoupling the cars. It may be connectedby suitable rods or bars with the outside or top of the car, so as toenable the operator to raise the cam without going between the cars.

In coupling the cars the link strikes against the arm k, and forces thelatter up. The curved shape of the arm carries the link past the end ofthe pin 6, when the spring m, acting on the projection Z, forces the camdown. The upper arm 11, on which has been placed the eye of the pin,pushes the latter through the buffer and couples the cars.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

The combination, with the buffer a and pin 0, of the cam f, constructedas described, having the projection l on its shaft, and the springsubstautiall y as and for the purposes set forth.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix 1n y signaturein presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. BURTON. Witnesses:

RoB'r. W. HooD, W. D. MoGINLEY.

